ABSTRACT

The high-profile cases of Alfie Evans and Indi Gregory highlighted disagreements between parents and medical authorities over ending the life of a very young child. Participation rights of these children were invoked by the parents, the medical and judicial authorities, and even by the media. In both cases, parents began a lively debate on the international public stage about children’s rights and medical treatment, which amplified the pre-existing calls for law reform to give more weight to parents’ views in critical medical decisions for their children. This research considers first, the participation rights of children in end-of-life decisions when children cannot speak for themselves, and second, the responsibility of the media in protecting the dignity of children when reporting on sensitive healthcare scenarios. While recognizing the responsibility of authorities to uphold the dignity of the child and the crucial role of parents, this research emphasizes the media’s potential in advocating for public health reforms and its pivotal role in shaping the future of children’s rights.